I want to share my heartfelt story about how my neighborhood in Eugene, Oregon, came together during the pandemic. A few years before it all began, we had moved here from Berkeley, California, and Eugene turned out to be the perfect place for us to ride through those tough times. Our lifestyle didn’t change much, despite the restaurants and gym closing. We continued hiking and biking, and Oregon’s relatively low population density meant the pandemic didn’t hit us as hard as it did some other places.

Early in 2020, something remarkable happened. Our doorbell rang – a rare occurrence then – and standing there was a young woman from a student house down the street. Living right near the University of Oregon campus, there are always student rental units nearby, but this young woman stood out. She introduced herself and proposed that our block come together as a community pod, where we could get to know each other and hang out safely.

Her initiative inspired me. She even hosted guitar music sessions on her front lawn, where we sang folk songs together. I felt a bit sheepish that she was taking the lead when I considered myself an activist. So, I jumped in to help organize alongside her and another neighbor, Will Parody, who soon became a close friend. Will, an incredibly passionate artist, intrigued me with his creative work. Feeling inspired, I suggested we turn one of his black-and-white posters into a community project.

We divided the poster into sections, giving each household a piece to color. When we brought all the pieces together, it created a vibrant, patchwork-like artwork that symbolized our unity during a difficult time. Not everyone participated, but those who did enjoyed the project. I even got more into coloring myself, experimenting with various techniques and enjoying local radio shows while I colored.

Throughout this period, what struck me the most was the sense of community that developed. The pandemic had its challenges, but it also brought silver linings, like the magic of Zoom connecting me with family and friends across the country. It was uplifting to hear positive stories from neighbors, hear strangers’ love and support, and see people building confidence through newfound connections.

Our world truly needs more of these positive, community-focused experiences. Reflecting on these moments, I’m smitten with the sense of togetherness we fostered during such uncertain times. Thank you for listening.

This minisode was clipped from a LIVE virtual Show & Tale: Artifacts & Totems (Pandemic Edition) to build connections, community & legacy one story of stuff at a time.

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Looking to build deeper connections, community & legacy with your employees, volunteers, donors, community, alumni, family, friends, residents, team or event participants? Hire me to host a unique story-sharing gathering, playshop, exhibition or retreat. Email me at martie at showandtales dot com

Have a story of a special item you’d love to share? Reach out to Martie McNabb at info at showandtales dot com and be part of a future episode with the Subject line: Podcast Guest✨

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